Gang drill tunneling machine



M. J. DEMO GANG DRILL TUNNELING MACHINE Feb. 8, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 29, 1951 Y NH RN 1 mm 1 m\ N a WN A wk mw NNm m INVENTOR. MAXJDEMO firrafi l llllll M. J. DEMO GANG DRILL TUNNELING MACHINE Feb. 8, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29, 1951 ww hw Feb. 8, 1955 M. J. DEMO 2,701,711

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Feb. 8, 1955 M. J. DEMO GANG DRILL TUNNELING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 29, 1951 IN V EN TOR.

14%; 2mm i "Feb. 8; 1955" M. J. DEMO v GANG DRILL TUNELING MACHINE 9 sheets-sheet 7 Filed March 29. 1951 MXJ DEMO INVENTOR.

1 Feb. 8, 1955 M. J. DEMO GANG DRILL TUNNELING MACHINE vN E R 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 144m]. DEMO IN VEN TOR.

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Filed March 29, 1951 Feb. 8, 1955 M. J. DEMO 2,701,711

GANG DRILL TUNNELING MACHINE Filed March 29, 195i 9 Shets-Sheet 9 Max DEMO INVEN TOR.

Patented Feb. 8, 1955 GANG DRKLL TUNNELING MACHINE Man .1. Demo, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Troy Investments, Inc, Santa Monica, Calif., a corporation of California Application March 29, 1951, Serial No. 218,210

9 Claims. c1. 262-7) This invention relates to gang drill tunnelling machines, and it has among its salient objects and purposes:

To provide a gang drill tunnelling machine which is self-contained, with power plant and control mechanisms therefor, as a part thereof, and which includes a series of cooperating drilling units held in parallel relationship with each other, and spaced around a horizontal center, each unit including a drill tube, with a drill bit in its end, with power connections for rotating it, and also for oscillating it longitudinally, and for feeding said drilling units forwardly simultaneously in a drilling operation;

To provide in a machine of the character referred to, a series of similar outer drilling units, each of said outer drilling units being movable laterally outwardly and inwardly, relative to the axis of the machine and of said first mentioned drilling units, whereby to enlarge the area to be drilled;

To provide in connection with each of said drilling units, a drill tube with drill bit in its end, and a small tube therethrough for conveying air and water or other medium to the driil bit during the drilling operation for clearing away the dust and small particles from the bit, and for keeping the drill bit cool, with means connected therewith for supplying air under pressure and water thereto;

To provide in connection with each drill unit and its drill tube, a feed screw, with means for driving all of said feed screws simultaneously for feeding said drill units forwardly together in the drilling operation;

To provide in a machine of the character referred to an instrument board with the control instruments thereon and connections therefrom for controlling the different operations of the drilling units;

To provide in such a machine, power operated jacks at opposite sides thereof, and operable to be thrust outwardly into holding engagement with the sides of the tunnel being bored, whereby the machine is firmly anchored and held steady for the drilling operation;

To provide a gang drill tunnelling machine supported for power movement to and from the work, with manually controlled power means for moving the same as a unit to and from the drilling position;

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following more detailed description of one practical embodiment thereof, taken in connection with the accompanying nine sheets of drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gang drill tunnelling machine, embodying my invention, with parts broken away to reduce the size of the figure;

Figure 1A (Sheet is a view of one of the supporting and carrying arches, as seen from the position of line 1A1A, Fig. 1;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a gang of driving gears for driving drill tubes, as seen from the position of line 22, Fig. 1, with a part broken away;

Figure 2A is an edge view thereof, taken at line 2A2A, Fig. 2;

Figure 3 is a view taken on line 3-3, on Fig. 1, showing a series of stubs of flexible shafts for driving the feed screws, one of which can be seen in Fig. 19 (Sheet 7);

Figure 4 is an enlarged view looking from the position of arrow 4, on Fig. 1, being the front of one of the supporting and bearing heads;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the bearing members of one unit, as seen at arrow 5, Fig. 4, which bearing member is mounted on the inside of the square head, and through which unit a drill tube, a

screw drive, a water and air tube, and tie-rods of the unit pass;

Figure 5A is a sectional View looking down on said view from line 5A-5A, on Fig. 5, with the walls of the square supporting and bearing head in section;

Figure 6 is an enlarged plan view, with parts broken out and in section, showing one of the drill units, including the drill tube, a driving shaft with intermeshing gears for driving the drill tube, and with a small tube for water and air through said drill tube;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 6, with parts broken out to reduce the size of the figure, and also showing the feed screw for feeding the drilling unit forwardly;

Figure 8 is an end view of a drill bit, showing a drill bit as seen from the line 88 on Fig. 7;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the end of a drill tube, showing how the drill bit is screwed into the end of said drill tube;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view, at line 1t]10, Fig. 7, showing an annular cam groove for oscillating the drill tube longitudinally as it is rotated;

Figure 11 is an end elevation looking at the end of a part of Fig. 10, from the position of line 1111 thereon;

Figure 12 is a side view of one of the jointed, adjustable driving members for driving the feed screws for feeding the drill tubes;

Figure 13 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 1313, Fig. 12, to show one of the telescoping intel-locking devices;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary view showing a connection from a drum to a toggle link for moving said toggle link, as seen in Fig. 19 (Sheet 7) in dotted lines;

Figure 15 is an enlarged view of a universal joint;

Figure 16 is an enlarged view of a cone clutch for conmeeting the motor M for driving the screws which feed the drills forwardly;

Q Figlf8 17 is a sectional view taken on line 17-17 on A 1g. 1

Figure 18 is an enlarged side view of one of the movable drilling units, as seen looking from arrow 18, on Fig. 4 (Sheet 2), showing the lateral adjustment in light dotted lines;

Figure 18A shows a detail of a pivot hearing, as seen from line 18A18A, Fig. 18;

Figure 18B shows a detail in section, as seen on line 1ST3-13B, Fig. 18;

Figure 19 is an enlarged fragmentary side view, also showing certain adjustments in light dotted lines, and showing how one of the outer or movable drill units can be moved laterally inwardly;

Figure 19A is a detail of a support seen from the arrow 19A on Fig. 19;

Figure 20 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2il-20, on Fig. 1, showing some of the supporting and bearing members, seen in side elevation in Fig. 1, which are movable forwardly and rearwardly in the feeding operation, and one of which is seen in Fig. 7;

Figure 21 is a schematic or diagrammatic view showing the various operating parts and their connections, with control mechanisms as will be found on the control or instrument board;

Figure 22 is an enlarged side elevation of a drilling tube, with a modified mechanism for imparting the longitudinal vibration thereto, with parts in section; and

Figure 23 is a fragmentary perspective view of the end of an intermediate member seen in Fig. 22.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the entire operating structure is movably suspended from a suitable track, such as an l-beam 1, by means of supporting arch members, as 2 and 3, one of which is seen in Fig. 1A (Sheet 5), with a platform 5 therein. Said arch members have carrier wheels, as 6, 6, adapted to said I-beam, as shown. One of said arch members, as 3, Fig. 1, has one of its wheels provided with a driving sprocket 7, driven by a sprocket chain 8, from a motor 9 and its sprocket 9', whereby said structure can be moved along said I-beam, to and from the work. Spring means, as 10, illustrated in Fig. 1A (Sheet 5), holds the wheels 6, 6, on the I-beam 1. V w M An instrument board B is shown on the rear of the machine, Fig. 1, with the entire power mechanism supported on the platform 5, and which includes a storage tank 11, for air under pressure, a compressor 12, with motor drive therefor, as 1313; a main power unit 14, from which a sprocket chain 15 is driven and which runs to a small sprocket 16, on a worm shaft 17, with worm 18, seen also in Figs. 2 and 2A, said worm 18 being in mesh with a worm gear 1.9, Fig. 2A, which is in axial alinement and connected with a large gear 29, which is in mesh with a surrounding series of small gears, as 21, 21. This mechanism is all enclosed in a housing 22. Thus from the worm 18, and the worm gear 19, the large gear 20 is driven and from said large gear twenty-eight small gears, shown in mesh therewith, are driven together. Each of said small gears 21 has a coupling member, as 23, connected therewith, to be driven therefrom. In Fig. 12 one of the complete jointed and adjustable driving members is shown in side elevation, with universal joints, 25 and 26. The body 24 thereof is composed of two telescoping members 24a and 24b, with set screws, as 240, for slidably interlocking said members together. These driving members, of which twenty-eight are shown, constitute the driving means for twenty-eight different drill tubes, again referred to.

Toward the front of the general structure, that is, toward the drilling end of the machine, are two supporting and bearing heads, designated 27 and 23, of square form in the present showing, and these are supported on the I-beam 1 by traction wheels, as 6, 6

in suitable brackets similar to those shown on the arch members 2 and 3, Fig. 1.

Supporting head 28 can be seen in Fig. 4, which is a view looking in the direction of the arrow 4, on Fig. l.

The form of head 23 can be seen in Fig. 20, and its edge view in Fig. 19. Fig. 20 is a sectional view from line 20- 2% on Fig. l, with the members extending through said supporting head 28 shown in section.

Each of these supporting heads is formed of two spaced sheets of steel, as will be seen from the sectional view in Fig. 5A (Sheet 2), and between these two sheets are bolted supporting and bearing members, as 29, one of which is seen in sectional view in said Fig. 5A, and the broken out view in Fig. 5,-in which one of said bearing members 29 is seen in face view through said broken out area of one of the steel plates. Said bearing mernbers 29 are bolted between the steel plates, many of them being seen in light broken lines on Fig. 4, and their arrangement and positions corresponding to the positions of similar movable bearing members seen in Fig. 20, taken on line 211-20, Fig. 1. The spaced steel plates are connected by short bolts, as 30, 30, and said heads 27 and 28 are connected by long tie rods, as 31, 31, Fig. 1.

These bearing members 29 are the same in all places. Some of them are mounted wholly within the area of the square heads, as seen in Fig. 4, in light broken lines, and some similar bearing members are referred to as outer bearing members, as will be seen in Fig. 4, where they are carried on the outer ends of toggle members, as 36, 36, and are supported beyond the marginal edges of said heads. On Fig. 20, and also on Fig. l, the bearing members are designated 29. These are the movable or outer bearing members between the heads 27 and 28 and are seen in full lines in Figs. 1, 6, and 7, in greatly enlarged form in Figs. 6 and 7.

it will be noted that there are thirteen of the bearing members 29 within the area of the supporting head 28, Fig. 4, distributed as shown and rigidly bolted in place between the plates of the head.

Through each pair of bearing members, in addition to the tie rods 31, 31, Fig. 5A, extending from one head to the other, there is a feed screw, as 32, again referred to, a drill tube, as 33, and a drive shaft 34, shown of hexagonal form, and a small tube for water and air, extended through each drill tube 33. By reference to Fig. 4. it will be seen that there are fifteen of the outer, or movable bearing members 29", supported on the jointed links or toggles, designated 36, and arranged around and extending beyond the area of said heads 27 and 23. The thirteen drill tubes 33, each has a drill bit, as 33' in its end. The fifteen drill tubes or. units, supported in the movable bearing members 29 and seen in- Fig. 4, are similar to those within the heads 27' and 28. They are all held in parallel. relationship, the outer ones being adjustable or movable outiii wardly and inwardly together, as seen in light broken lines in Fig. 19. I will refer to a drill unit as including one drill tube 33, with the small tube 35 therein for air and water, the feed screw 32, the drive shaft 34, and the tie rods, all extending through one bearing member within the head 28 to the bearing member in the head 27, and other similar drill units as carried on the outer ends of the toggle links 36, and seen in Fig. 4, hingedly mounted on the two spaced heads 27 and 2S, and all movably supported to be moved together in a manner again referred to. In Fig. 19 one of said drill units is shown in full lines and in adjusted position in light broken ends. This shows only one end, but it will be understood that the full length of drill unit, from one head 27 to the other head 28, is moved as the toggle links are broken as indicated in the light broken line position in Fig. 19. This adjustment of the drill units is also shown in enlarged drawing in Fig. 18, being in extended view in full lines, and in withdrawn position in light dotted lines. The outer drill units are thus all moved together by their toggle supporting means. The supporting members for the drill units which are within the areas of the two heads 27 and 23 are designated 29, and are seen in light broken lines on Fig. 4. The supporting members for the drill units which are carried by the toggle links are designated 29", as seen in Fig. 4 also, around the outer area of said head. Then there are supporting members for the ends of the drill tubes between the heads 27 and 28 and which must move together forwardly as the drill units are fed into the work. These drill units are seen between the heads 27 and 28 on Fig. 1 and their supporting and bearing members are designated 29', Fig. 1, Figs. 6 and 7 and Fig. 18.

The adjustment of the supporting toggle links, 36, 36, shown in Figs. 4 and 19, is accomplished by means of a drum 37, supported by a leg 38, running on an inverted V-track 39, as seen in Figs. 19 and 19A (Sheet 7). From the rim of this drum 37, are pull rods 40, each consisting of two telescoping members, a tubular member and a rod 41, hingedly connected to the drum 37, as at 37, Fig. 14 (Sheet 4), said rod having a collar 42, adjustably secured thereto by set screws, as indicated, whereby said collar serves as a stop for said rod, so that the proper adjustment can be made for moving said pivotally supported drilling units, as indicated in Fig. 19. Said drum 37 is moved outwardly by hydraulic means, consisting of a plunger rod 43, secured to said drum in its center, and operating within a cylinder 44, with tube connected therewith for furnishing hydraulic fluid. to said cylinder, as indicated in Fig. 19. A return tube from the opposite end of said cylinder 44 is seen in Fig. i9. These tubes 45 and 46 extend to and are connected with a source of supply of hydraulic fluid, again referred to.

Figs. 6 and 7 show enlarged views of one drilling unit, including a feed screw 32, a drill tube 33, with a small tube 35 for air and water therethrough, a drive shaft 34 and the tie rods 31, 31, all of which are seen in Fig. 7, also Figs. 5, 5A and 19. The several operating or drilling units lying within the marginal areas of the heads 27 and 28, have their bearings in the members 29. For the outer drilling units, the bearing members are designated 29", as before referred to, but the supporting and bearing members to which the driving ends of the drill tubes are connected for operation, designated 29', are slidably mounted on the tie rods, and are on the feed screws, as seen in Fig. 7, so that the supporting member 29", feeds the drill tube 33 forwardly with it as the feed screw is rotated, and as the drive shaft 34 is driven, it revolves the drill tube in the drilling operation, and it moves forwardly on the small tube for air and water, on the tie rods and on the screw 32, said feed screw accomplishing the feed forwardly in the drilling operation.

By reference to Figs. 6 and 7 and 10, it will be seen that the drill tubes 33 are provided with ring gears, as 47, which mesh with drive gears, as 48, on drive shaft 34, Fig. 6. The drive shaft 34 is shown to be hexagonal in cross section, with its end round and turning in ball bearings, as at 49, in a housing 59, on the head of the supporting and bearing member 29", as carried on the toggle 36. The drive gear 48 is also in a housing, as 51, carried on the head of its movable supporting and bearing member 29, as: indicated in Figs. 6 and 7.

Mounted in said head 29, is a sleeve 52 through which the water and air tube 35 passes and along which said head 29' and said sleeve 52 move in the feeding operation of the drill tube. Ball bearing sets, as 53, 53, are inserted around said sleeve 52, at opposite sides of said gear ring 47, within another sleeve member 54, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 7. In the end of said sleeve 54, is a cam sleeve or collar 55, having formed around its surface an undulating cam groove 56, Fig. 10, said collar 55 being threaded at its outer end, as at 57, for connection with the inner end of a drill tube 33, as seen in Figs. 6 and 7 and 10. Set in said sleeve 54, are cam studs, as 56, having their inner ends operating in said undulating cam groove 56, for causing longitudinal oscillation of said drill tube as it is revolved by the gears 47 and 43, which are driven by the drive shaft 34, as shown.

Operating between sleeve 52, through which the water and air tube is located, and said cam sleeve 55 is located, are three interlocking bearing balls 58, 58, in holding pockets, as 58, 58, seen in Figs. 10 and 11. These interlocking balls form a drive from the sleeve 52 to the sleeve 55, while permitting the longitudinal oscillating movement.

I will now describe how the different parts of the drilling units are driven. By reference to Figs. 1, 2, 2A, 6, 7 and 12, each of the drill tubes is driven from one of the couplings 23, 23 from the small gears 21, 21, Figs. 2 and 2A, and seen in connected positions in Fig. l, at the line 22, each coupling member being extended to and connected to the round end 34' of the driving shaft 34, as indicated in Figs. 6 and 12, for driving the gears 48 and 47 for turning said drill tubes 33 and also turning the cam collar or sleeve 55 for oscillating said drill tube at the same time it is being rotated in the drilling operation.

The feed screws 32, 32, are driven from the ring of twenty-eight small gears or sprockets 59, 59, as shown in Fig. 3, taken on line 33 on Fig. 1, each of said gears or sprockets having a flexible shaft as 59' extended therefrom and to be turned thereby, said flexible shafts being connected at their opposite ends to the feed screws 32, 32, as at 32, Fig. 7. Said sprockets 59 are operated together by means of a driving sprocket chain 60, and indicated in Fig. 3, running around all of said sprockets 59. Said sprocket chain is driven from a motor M, Fig. 1, and a shaft 61 extended therefrom to a small drive sprocket at 62, as indicated in Fig. 1.

Between the motor M and said sprocket 62, a cone clutch is interposed, with control therefor, whereby the feed of the several drills can be controlled from the instrument board. Referring to Fig. 16, I have shown an enlarged view of a two-part cone clutch, designated as a whole 63. In the drawing the clutch cup is designated 63 and the cone is designated 63 with means for moving said cone, including a fork 64 over a spool 65, on the cone shaft 66, which telescopes into a tubular end portion 67, of the shaft 61, with interlocking balls, as 67', 67' therein, shown also in the sectional view in Fig. 17, taken on line 1717, Fig. 16.

Said clutch is operated by hydraulic means, as shown, including a cylinder 68, with piston 69 therein, connected with said fork 64, for moving it back and forth. Two pipes 70, 70 are shown for carrying the hydraulic fluid to said cylinder 68 from a source of supply, again referred to.

I will now describe the connections of the water-air tubes 35, 35 with the drill tubes 33, 33.

Referring to Figs. 1, 4 and 19, a square manifold 72 is shown mounted near the supporting and bearing head 28, with a supply tube 73 extending therefrom to the rear of the machine, under the instrument board B, as seen in Fig. 1. This manifold 72 is provided around its area with connections designated '74, 74, with connecting tubes, as 75, 75, therefrom to and connected with the anchored ends of the water-air tubes 35, 35, in the inner supporting and bearing members 29, 29, and also in the outer supporting and bearing members 29", 29", as seen in Fig. 4. In Fig. 19, one of the tubes 75' from the upper side of said manifold is seen connected with one of the inner supporting and bearing members 29, in the head 28, and one of the tubes 75, from the lower side of said manifold is seen connected with one of the outer and downwardly extending supporting and bearing members 29", and also through one of the movable bearing members 29', in the lower part of said lit) Fig. 19. These water and air supply tubes 35, 35 are extended through all of said supporting and bearing members to the ends of the drill tubes in which they are placed, and when their control valves are opened a blast of air and water is forced to the ends of the drills for washing away all loose particles. The movable supporting and bearing members 29', 29' move on said tubes 35, 35, as seen in Figs. 6 and 7. The feed means 32, 32 are driven by the flexible shafts 59' from the small sprockets 59, Fig. 3, as before described.

By reference to Figs. 19 and 20, mounted on the two main heads 27 and 28, are two hydraulic rams or jacks, as 76 and 77, two on each head, directed outwardly toward the opposite walls. These rams have plungers therein, designated 76 and 77' to be hydraulically forced outwardly into operating positions against the opposite walls or structures between which the machine is being operated for holding the machine steady and wall anchored during the drilling operation.

Referring to Figs. 22 and 23, I have shown a slightly modified mechanism for imparting an oscillating movement to the drill tube 33, as it is rotated in the drilling operation, and before described in connection with Fig. 1

One of the operating members 29 is here shown with its gear 47 set therein, similar to the showing in Fig. 6. This gear 47 is mounted on an inner tubular member 100, provided on its end with a nut 101. Mounted on said tubular member 100, within the shell of the member 29', is a cam collar 102, secured in place in said member 29' by means of set screws, as 103a. Said cam collar has its end formed into an undulating cam runway, as 103.

Mounted in the end of said operating member 29 is a connecting member 104 having its inner end formed into a similar undulating cam end or runway, as 105, to cooperate with the cam end 103 of the cam collar 102. Steel balls, as 106, are placed between the undulating cam ends or runways 103 and 105, as clearly shown in Fig. 22.

Said connecting member 104 is reduced at its end and threaded, as at 104', and a drill tube 33 is shown connected therewith.

In Fig. 23, a perspective view of said connecting member 104 is shown, with a bore therethrough and with three longitudinally extending channels 107, 107 formed or cut therein. The inner tubular member 100, within said connecting member 104, is provided in its outer surface with ball-receiving seats, as 108, to receive interlocking balls, as 109, in the channels 107 of the member 104, for interlocking the connecting member 104, and the drill tube 33, to turn together with the tubular member 100, which is driven by the gear 4'7, from the drive shaft 34, before described. A coiled spring 110 is mounted on said tubular member 100, and bears at one end against the nut 101, and at its other end, it bears against the threaded end of the connecting member 104, as clearly shown.

Thus as said tubular member 104 is revolved with the gear 47, by reason of the interlocking steel balls 109, it drives the connecting member 104, and the drill tube 33 connected therewith, and as the spring 110 yieldingly holds the connecting member 104 inwardly, its undulating cam end 105 must operate on the steel balls 106, 106, between the adjacent and cooperating cam ends 103 and 105 and impart longitudinal vibration or oscillation to the drill tube as it is driven from the gear 47, tul1n3l9ar member and the interlocking steel balls 109,

In the other mechanism for imparting an oscillating movement to the drill tube, as shown in Fig. 10, the short cam studs 56 are not thought to be the best means for accomplishing this action. The mechanism just described is preferred, for the steel balls operating between the two cam ends, as described, with one member movable relative to the other, as shown and described, is more practical and more durable.

The use and operation of the invention herein described may be briefly described as follows:

Referring to the diagrammatic view in Fig. 21, by pressing switch S4, motor M4 is started, corresponding to motor 9, Fig. 1, which moves the entire machine on the track or I-beam 1, to and from the work. This is under control lever 80 for reversing the motor.

When the machine is thus moved to the work, it is next necessary to set the front holding jacks 7.6, 76, which are controlled by valve 81. Then'it is necessary to set the rear jacks 77, 77, controlled by valve 92. These acks are hydraulically operated under the control of switch S3, which starts motor M3 for operating the pumping of the hydraulic fluid from the tank .83. With the front and rear jacks thus set into the opposite sides of the tunnel, the machine is firmly held and is ready for operation.

The next operation is to bend the outer arms, or toggles, designated 36, 36, and which carry the outer .drilling units, as described in connection with Figs. 4 and 19, and these are operated by the cylinder .44 and its plunger 43, which moves the drum 37, as seen in Fig. 19, Where it is shown moved to the .outer position in full lines, and to the withdrawn .or inner position in light broken lines. These are hydraulically operated and are controlled by lever 84, from the same hydraulic pressure which operates the front and rear jacks, said carrying for the outer drilling units being moved outwardly and inwardly, as indicated in :Figs. 18 and '19.

Switch S1, starts motor M1 which operates the compressor and "builds up air pressure in the tank 86..

Valve lever 90 controls the flow of air from the tank 86 -to the jet mechanism 89, as shown in said diagrammatic view. A water control valve 588 controls the how of water to said jet mechanism. Air and .water are thus mixed through this jet mechanism 89 and discharged into the'manifold 72, seen in said view, and also seen in Figs. 1, -4 and 19, and from which manifold .small tubes, as 75, extend to the several small .tubes 35, 35,'in the .drill tubes '33, 33.

The small tubes 35, 35, are in the drill tubes .of all the drill units, and the outer ones .of which are carried by the toggle members 36, 36, and the inner .or .fixed ones of which are through the square supporting :heads 27 and 28, and seen in Figs. 1, .4 and 20. The supply of air and water through the small tubes to the .drill .bits is to wash away the dust and particles from the drill bits in thedrilling operation.

By pressing switch S2, motor M2 .is started, which drives the drill tubes 33, 33, having :the .drill :bits 33' in their ends. The drive 15 from the motor M2, seen in Fig. 21, drives a gear '16, Figs. 2 .and 2A, on a shaft '17, which drives a worm 18, inmesh with-a worm gear 19, which drives a large gear 20, and which in turn drives a series of small gears '21, 21, each of which has a coupling member 23, for the connecting members 24'24b, Figs. 1, 12 and 19, for driving the drive shafts 34, 34, seen in Figs. 6 and "7, fordriving said drill'tubes, through the gears47 and 48, as .seen in Fig. 6, and described more in detail in connection therewith.

A cone clutch 63, operated by air under pressure from the reservoir 86, is controlled by valve lever 93, and is operated to connect motor M 1, through shaft 61, with a sprocket gear 62, and chain 60, for driving the series of small gears 59, 59, shown in Fig. 3, for driving the flexible shafts 59', 59, extended to and connected with the feed screws 32, as at 32, for feeding the drill tubes 33 and their drill bits 33' forwardly into the work, as will be understood from Fig. 7, and Fig. 19.

Shown on said diagrammatic view, Fig.'2l, in connection with the circuits shown are switches 81,81, 82,83 and S4,'to control corresponding motors designated 'M1, M1, M2, M3 and M4, and also, in said-circuits are magnetic control boxes, designated 1*, 2 3 -and 4 These control switches, levers, valves and gauges to be described are all included on the instrument -board, B, in Fig. l, and are within easy reach.

A hydraulic pressure gauge 85, an air gauge -91, and

an oil gauge 95, are shown on said :Fig. 21. A variable speed control lever is also shown for controlling the speed of the drills and is designated 87.

Thus I'have provided a gang drilling machine having a series of drilling tubes held in fixed, parallel relationship, h

and a-series of drilling tubes carried at=the free ends of toggle arms and movable outwardly .and inwardly in parallel relationship with each other and with the first series of drilling tubes, with power-means connectedtor rotating said drilling tubes in the drilling function, and with means for causing the longitudinal :oscillation of said drilling tubes to increase the effectiveness of the drilling function, with means for removing thedust and drillings from'the drill-bits during theoperation .of said machine.

l have also provided such {a machi-ne, 'suspended from an overhead track, with power means for moving it to and from the work, with instrument board carried thereby with control mechanisms for controlling all of the functions of said machine.

I am aware that many changes can and probably will be made in the details of construction and arrangement to eifect the different operations herein described, without departing from the real invention, and I do not, therefore, limit the invention to the details shown and described, except as I may be limited by the hereto appended claims forming a part of this specification.

The present application discloses subject matter disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 233,312, filed June 25, 1951.

I claim:

1. In a rock drilling machine, a supporting and carrying structure, a plurality of drill tubes having their bearings in said structure and having drill bits in their work ends, small tubes in said drill tubes for conveying air and water under pressure through said drill tubes to said drill bits during the drilling operation, power means on said structure with driving connections to said drill tubes for rotating them in a drilling function, means connected with said drill tubes, and operated by the rotating movement thereof, for imparting a longitudinal oscillating movement to said drill tubes during their rotation to increase the drilling function, a source of air under pressure, and a source of water under pressure, .a jet mixing mechanism to which said air and water .are connected for mixing them, and a manifold to receive said mixed'air and water, said manifold being connected with' said small tubes for supplying the same .to said small tubes and said drill bits, screw feed means connected with each drill tube for feeding it to the'work, power means connected with said screw feed means for simultaneously operating the same for feeding said drill tubes to the work, and control means therefor.

2. In a gang drill machine for drilling rock and the like, a body structure supported .for' movement as a unit to and from the work,pow'er means with control for moving it, said body structure including a plurality of spaced bearing heads connected andhheld in fixed spaced relationship with each other, a series of parallel drill tubes having bearings in and extending through said heads, rotatable and slidable longitudinally therein, said drill tubes having drill bits in their work ends, a series of toggle supporting arms pivotally supported at their attached ends onsaid bearing heads andextensible outwardly and inwardly therefrom, parallel drill ltubes carried in the ends of said toggle arms and mOvable therewith outwardly and inwardly beyond the marginal'area of said bearing heads,

power means wlth operatingconnections to each of said drill tubes of both groups for rotating them in a drilling function, power means for feeding said drill tubes to the work, power means withcontrol therefor for bending said toggle ,arms simultaneously together to move the drill tubes carried bythem inwardly and outwardly, and power means for 'moving said machine forwardly during the drilling operation.

3. In a gang drilling machine, a supporting and carrying structure therefor which includes as'apart thereof a plurality ,of spaced bearing ,head's held in fixed relation to each other as .aflpart of said structure, a plurality of parallel drill tubes having their'bearings in and through said bearing heads, said drill tubes having drill bits in their work ends, power meanson said structureand connected with said drilltubes for rotating them in the drilling function, withcontrol for said power means, a plurality of toggle arms pivotallyconnected with said bearing heads, and having their 30llt6l' arms provided .with hearings to receive drill tubes, drill tubes rotatably supported in said toggle arms and movable outwardly an d inwardly as said togglearms :are bent and straightened, ,pow'er means for simultaneously :bending said togglearms formovingsaid drilltubes inwardlyrelative .to,s aid bearing heads, said movable drill tubes having drill bits in their work ends, all of-saiddrilltubes beingconnectedwith power means and a screw feed for each for graduallyfeeding saiddrill tubes into the work during the drilling function, a small tubes and said drill tubes to the drill bits therein for removing dust and ,drillings therefrom, said mo able drill tubes carri d by said-toggl nmsbeinahevgfldlh a a ginal edges of said bearing heads, and power-operated means on said drill tubes for causing longitudinal oscillation of each tube during its rotation in the drilling function to increase the efliciency thereof.

4. A gang drilling machine, as set forth in claim 3,

in which the supporting and carrying structure therefor is suspended from and movable along an overhead supporting rail, with a motor drive therefor for moving said machine along said supporting rail.

5. In a gang drill machine for drilling for tunnels, a

supporting and carrying structure, an overhead supporting track with means for suspending said structure therefrom, power means connected therewith for moving said structure to and from the work on said overhead track,

a series of parallel drill tubes having their hearings in and through said structure and having drill bits in their work ends, power means on said structure with operating connections with said drill tubes for simultaneously rotating them in the drilling function, means connected with each drill tube and operable by the rotation thereof for imparting a longitudinal oscillation thereto during the drilling function, power-operated jacks connected with said supporting and carrying structure at opposite sides thereof and operable to be extended into holding anchoring engagement with the opposite sides of tunnel for holdan overhead track way, a body structure with means 3 suspending it from said track way to move thereon, motor means for moving it, said body structure including spaced bearing heads as a part thereof, a series of drill tubes extended through at least one of said bearing heads and having drill bits in their work ends, each drill tube having therein a small tube to carry water to said drill bit to remove dust and drillings therefrom, means for furnishing water under pressure to said tubes, power means carried by said body structure with driving connections therefrom to said drill tubes for revolving said drill tubes in a drilling function, control means for said power to control the speed of said drill tubes, a separate screw feed for each of said drill tubes extending through said bearing heads and connected to said drill tube intermediate said bearing heads, power 50 means with connections for simultaneously driving said screw feeds, a member on each of said drill tubes having a circumferential undulating cam way around said drill tube, cooperating elements to work in said cam way to impart a longitudinal oscillation to said drill 55 tubes as they are rotated in the drilling operation, control means for moving said machine toward and from the work, and control means for controlling the feed by said screw feeds, and a clutch interposed between the source of power for driving said drill tubes with means for controlling its operation.

7. A gang drilling machine as set forth in claim 6, which includes an air compresser and a jet mixing mechanism to have the water supply and the air supply mixed therein, with means for connecting it with the small tubes in said drill tubes, whereby a mixture of air and water under pressure is used to remove dust and drillings from the drill bits in said drill tubes.

8. In a gang drilling machine, a body structure for supporting and carrying the mechanisms, said structure including spaced bearing heads connected and held 111 fixed relationship as a unit, a series of drill tubes having their bearings in and through said heads, within the marginal edges of said heads, said drill tubes having drill bits in their work ends, a series of toggle supporting arms pivotally connected with said bearing heads and having their free ends extending outwardly beyond the marginal edges of said bearing heads, drill tubes having their hearings in the free ends of said arms and extending from one set of toggle arms to the next set of toggle arms and being held in parallel relationship with each other and with the drill tubes within the marginal area of said heads, power means with driving connections to each of said drill tubes for rotating them in the drilling function, control means for controlling the speed thereof, power means having connection with said toggle arms for simultaneously bending them to move the drill tubes carried thereby inwardly and outwardly, a feed screw for each drill tube connected for moving said drill tube forwardly in the drilling function and power means for simultaneously operating said feed screws with control therefor for controlling the simultaneous feed of said drill tubes into the work, a small tube in each drill tube for carrying fluid to the drill bits for removing dust and drillings therefrom, a source of supply of mixture of air and water under pressure connected with said small tubes, means around each of said drill tubes to cause oscillation thereof lengthwise as it 5 is rotated in the drilling function, said means including a circumferential, undulating cam way with cooperatelements interposed between the drill tube and its supporting bearing, whereby to cause oscillation of said drill tubes lengthwise as they are revolved in the drilling function.

9. A gang drilling machine as set forth in claim 8, including an over head track, and means for suspending said body structure and said mechanisms as a unit therefrom, to move thereon, and motor means for moving I said machine as a unit to and from the work.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 307,379 Craven Oct. 28, 1884 504,179 Stanley Aug. 29, 1893 674,415 I-Iough May 21, 1901 698,189 Everson Apr. 22, 1902 883,481 Reiss Mar. 31, 1908 1,471,458 Gage Oct. 23, 1923 1,795,109 Degenhardt et al Mar. 3, 1931 2,059,415 Thomas et al Nov. 3, 1936 2,104,579 Bennett Jan. 4, 1938 2,128,240 Foster Aug. 30, 1938 2,302,073 Tracy Nov. 17, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 218,134 Great Britain July 3, 1924 

